HOW DO I APPLY?

International student application to College of the Desert and the Intensive English Academy is easy and the response time is fast! Just complete these simple steps and you can begin your studies in beautiful Palm Springs, California!

Attention
College Applicants:We are no longer accepting applications for Spring 2015 at College of the Desert. Please check back after May 1st for the new Fall 2015 application.

Students who applied for Spring 2015 and did not recieve admittance will need to reapply and submit new documents for Fall 2015.

Attention Intensive English Academy (IEA) Applicants: We are still accepting applications for the June, 2015 IEA Program. Application Deadline: May 1st.

STEP 1:

IEA Applicants Only

Download and complete the International Student Application. You can then email the completed file (with all listed documents) to our office for processing.

Note: COD International Education Program will only accept typed applications.

TOEFL/IELTS/iTEP or EIKEN score is required for direct admission to the college.

See "English Proficiency" section below. TOEFL is not required for Intensive English Academy

Copy of the information page from your passport

Housing Application (with $30 non-refundable application fee)

STEP 3:

Upon receipt of acceptance documents and the I-20, contact the US Embassy in your home country to apply for the F-1 visa.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT: Fall 2015TBD

Please be advised: English Proficiency scores and Waiver Options may change for Fall 2015 enrollments.

Admission to College of the Desert: Requires submission of one of the English proficiency tests below OR completion of approved level at indicated intensive English school. (See "English Proficiency Waiver Options" below):

NOTE: Students will be placed into academic and credit-ESL courses based on college assessment tests. Students scoring between 400-450 or 32-45 on the TOEFL should expect to take primarily ESL classes upon arrival. English proficiency tests are not used to determine placement into classes.

Admission to the Intensive English Academy (IEA): English proficiency tests are not required.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY WAIVER OPTIONS:

Students who have attended an ESL school in the USA may be able to waive the TOEFL/IELTS/EIKEN requirement. College of the Desert has agreements with the following schools and will waive the English proficiency requirement if students have completed the specified level as listed below:

ESL School Name:

Level Required for TOEFL waiver:

COD's Intensive English Academy (IEA):

Completion of Level 3

EF Language Schools:

Completion of EF Level 107/108

ELS Language Schools:

Completion of ELS Level 108

FLS International:

Completion of FLS Level 7

Language Studies International (LSI):

Completion of LSI Advanced Level

Mentor Language Institute:

Completion of Advanced Level

POLY Languages Institute:

Completion of POLY Avanced Level

UC Riverside IEP:

Completion of UCR Level 600 of UAPP

APPLICATION DEADLINES and PROGRAM DATES:

Application deadlines:

Fall semester - TBD

Spring semester - TBD

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The above dates are the last day we can accept applications and missing documents.

Semester dates:

Fall 2014: September 2 - December 19, 2014

Spring 2015: January 26 - May 22, 2015

TRANSFER STUDENTS:

Students who are currently studying in the United States and would like to transfer to College of the Desert or the Intensive English Academy must submit the International Student Application and the Transfer Form. The Transfer Form must be completed by your current Advisor in order to have your SEVIS record transferred to our institution. Please download our Transfer Form. Application deadlines for transfer students are on a rolling admission basis. Early application is encouraged as admission cannot be guaranteed for those applying after the published deadlines.

HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT:

College of the Desert (COD) and the Intensive English Academy (IEA) are concerned about the health and safety of our international students. US health care costs can be very expensive. This is especially true in cases of catastrophic accident or illness. We want to make sure that you have the coverage needed to lessen the out-of-pocket expenses that you or your family would have to pay.

For that reason, we require all international students to purchase the COD mandated health insurance plan. We are not able to accept overseas insurance policies or policies other than the COD mandated health insurance plan.

Please see the following for more information about our Health Insurance plan: Health Insurance